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Colin Powell Endorses Sen. Barack Obama–Whoda thunkit?

But seriously come on now, I mean, granted this presidential race is NOT over by a longshot, but the fact that retired General Colin Powell, a Republican, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy today proves to me that McCain is really off of his rocker. I mean, if Colin Powell could tell that the charge that he’s a terrorist is THE dumbest thing said this campaign season, even over the ish flung by Bill Clinton then perhaps Republicans need to evaluate this charge.

So, allegedly McCain will creep up in the polls by driving home this “income redistribution” jive he’s been spitting for some weeks now. Well, Hilary Rosen of CNN put that argument in it’s place by saying, so what was it called when back in the 1980’s when the tax breaks were given to the wealthy and somehow they never “trickled down” to the middle class. The 5-percenters had their chance in the late 70’s and 80’s and now it’s time for the 95-percenters to get their piece of the pie.

McCain, it’s time for you to hang up your hat and go off into that good night.

The question that will be answered in the following days is how much currency does Gen. Powell have with the American public. I think he lost some shine during the “case for war” fiasco. I noticed black folks use to talk about him all the time but after that he was persona non grata with blacks. Maybe this will get him back on Jet Magazine. I am curious how this will play with white folks (i.e. Independants, Moderate Republicans)

I think will it may not have a huge impact, I think it will have some. It’ll be those Military Independents that he will be able to sway. No matter how the general public may feel about Powell, he is still a big miltary influence. In another blog one poster said it was little to late for Powell to come out and endorse. I have to disagree with that. Perfect timing fo the most. It’s down to the wire and you still have many that haven’t decided yet. While I often feel that the media thinks the public is nothing but a bunch of dumbies and we aren’t, when it comes to being influenced by someone with major status, we go for that a lot and Powell’s endorsement WILL make up some voters minds.

Being a Vietnam veteran, I always a had a great deal of respect for Powell. I still have respect for all of his accomplishments. I just have a hard time putting into perspective his choice to speak to the UN and the confront the world with that picture of a broken down truck (the moving chemical lab) and a vile of unidentified white substance and make the case for war. He is far to intelligent of a man to have not known the truth. I would have to say at that very point when he could have impacted the onset of the Iraq war, for the greater good of American lives and Iraqi lives, he should have stepped down and refused to put his sterling reputation and all his hard work on the line for ruthless and disrespectful people like Bush and Chenney. I just can’t imagine were that destructive type of loyalty came from. He let himself be played like a drum, and that is something I am still trying to reconcile with the limited amount of cells that still might be working between my ears.

On the other hand, the fact that every news media agency is covering the Powell endorsement extensively means something. He still has clout and he still–despite Iraq–has respect among conservatives and independents.

Obama’s not going for the base; he’s going for the rest. He’s got as much of the base as he’s going to get.

I am an Independent white voter (though more liberal by the day) and I can tell you that there is not a more respected Republican in the nation’s eye, across the board. General Powell is admired by members of all parties for his judgment, his bi-partisanship, and his eloquence in the way he communicates his ideas.

This endorsement is beyond huge. Six months ago, he wouldn’t commit one way or the other because he hadn’t had time to study the candidates. Now that he is seen them in action, he sees what a majority of the country has seen as well: Barack Obama is the change that we need in this country.

I don’t expect Obama to be some kind of Superman and change everything overnight, but he will be the catalyst for the change that we all need, no matter our race. Just as important, it’s his ability to remain calm in the face of adversity that sets him apart, and will benefit all of us for many years to come if he is elected, at home and abroad.

Back to Powell for a moment, but if anyone thinks that he should have resigned before the Iraq war, I disagree. His resignation would have ensured that someone much more in the image of Bush and Cheney would have been Secretary of State and we would be certain of war. Not to mention that this speech was given to the United Nations, using disputed evidence, in an attempt to gather their support for more serious resolutions against Iraq. Powell himself never wanted to go to that war, but with him in place we at least had a chance to avoid it. As it turns out, that gamble didn’t pay off, but he at least tried.

This man has my respect and my admiration, and I would love to see him take a cabinet position in an Obama administration, though I think it’s unlikely.